Minger brings home the Gold
Highland Fine Cheeses has won Gold in the rind-washed category at the 2025 International Cheese & Dairy Awards (ICDA) for its standout cheese, Minger. This soft, annatto-washed rind cheese—known for its sticky orange rind, pungent aroma, oozy texture, and nutty flavour—is produced in Tain, northeast Scotland. The ICDA, held at the Staffordshire County Showground, is the world’s largest platform for celebrating excellence in cheese and dairy, with over 5,500 entries judged in one day.
The company also took home three Bronze awards at the ICDA: Fat Cow, a semi-hard washed rind cheese, and Blue Murder, a soft blue, both earned accolades in their respective categories. A third Bronze went to Ooh La La, a lactic-style soft cheese yet to be officially launched.
At the 2025 Royal Highland Show, Highland Fine Cheeses continued its awards streak with Gold for Fat Cow, and Bronze wins for Minger, Blue Murder, Strathdon Blue, and their Salted Butter. The recognition reflects the brand’s commitment to crafting artisan cheeses with distinctive character.
All award-winning cheeses and butter are available for UK-wide delivery via hf-cheeses.com, alongside accompaniments. Highland Fine Cheeses’ range can also be found in farm shops, delis, and supermarkets across the UK. Local stockists can be located at hf-cheeses.com/pages/store-locator.
Based in Tain, Highland Fine Cheeses is led by second-generation cheesemaker Rory Stone, who honours traditional artisan methods first used by his parents at Blarliath Farm. What began with just 14 dairy cows—and a legendary bull named Geordie—has grown into a respected producer of mould-ripened, blue, and washed rind cheeses.
The company’s origins are rooted in reviving Crowdie, a soft Scottish fresh cheese traditionally made in croft kitchens. It was first resurrected by Rory’s mother Susannah in the family bathtub—though production today is thankfully more modern. Highland Fine Cheeses does not use Bovaer additives or dietary supplements in its dairy supply chain, maintaining a natural, sustainable ethos.